Hassli Ready To Return

TORONTO - Eric Hassli is tired of being a spectator and hopes to return from a sprained right ankle for Toronto FC’s game against the Montreal Impact on Oct. 20.

“I feel way better,” the 31-year-old French striker told MLSsoccer.com on Thursday after training. “We’ll do everything to make it so that I can play because I really want to play in this game.”

Hassli has missed TFC’s past three league games after he suffered the ankle injury in a 1-1 draw against Philadelphia with about 10 minutes to play on what he and head coach Paul Mariner felt was a bad tackle.

It was Hassli’s second game after he missed two games because of a rib injury picked up in a 2-1 loss at Columbus on Aug. 22.

“It’s really frustrating because I didn’t play so much, I really wanted to play but I got two injuries in a row,” he said.

The big Frenchman has been a factor when he has played, scoring three goals with two assists in six games since he was acquired in a July 20 trade with Vancouver, two days after Toronto’s last win in league play.

Reduced to watching from the sidelines has not made it any easier for Hassli.

“I feel the same pain like the team because everybody is very, very disappointed,” he said. “It has been a tough season.”

Asked to assess his chances of being ready to play against Montreal, Hassli said, “I would say 100 percent.”

His return would be welcomed because forward Ryan Johnson is suspended for the game for yellow-card accumulation and forward Quincy Amarikwa is doubtful because of a hamstring injury picked up in the 1-0 loss to D.C. United last weekend.